ive got my 500bhp Audi engine sitting at Jabbasport and am not sure what to do so looking for thoughts. Should i put it into an s2 elise/exige or sell that engine and buy a radical sr3? It will only be used on track days so no racing. Im after a fast track day car. Radical claim that the sr3 will be faster round a track than a sorted 500bhp elise but im not so sure? Im assuming the radical will corner much faster than an elise? Anyone have experience of the radicals or both the radical and high powered elises?
SR3 will have much more aero effect so would be quicker in the corners, and I’d have thought it would be a fair bit lighter 
You mean an elise would NOT have it in the twistys?
Kerb weight of an SR3 465kg and a 1.5L 255BHP engine on paper that is going Go, Stop, and Turn very well indeed 
The Radical I suspect will be ultimately quicker, and if that is your goal then the Radical seems the way to go.
If you are looking for wider enjoyment over ultimate pace, I’d plump for the Exige. Sometimes it rains on trackdays, and the roof, will help make it that little more comfortable if the sun doesn’t join in.
As for maintenance, I don’t have the knowledge to comment on a 500bhp Audi engine, but the Radicals are a little on the fragile side, alhtough easier to work on as the bodywork removes in minutes. This also makes it very easy to play with the setup if you’re in to that sort of thing. Radicals struggle a bit with noise tests too,silencers require regular repacking.
I’m kind of thinking the exige is winning here I think I need to test the radical to possibly get it out my system.
How about this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1503589.htm + 500bhp audi lump ?
I am thinking of a 211 but i am hoping to get some gt3 panels for the exige then I could run 10" wide wheels without messing widening the rear clam ect. I’m not sure if the radical is a bit to hard core for track days.
How fast does it need to be ? I much prefer my elise trophy car to my audi on track
A radical will be a lot quicker on track if driven well… I remember seeing a well driven one at a Donnington trackday one year (think it was a factory team one actually) and it was crazy quick. The corner speed is several levels up on an elise/exige.
However, that’s also the problem in many respects… as I don’t think you’d enjoy the trackday as much. So much time would be spend waiting behind other cars and you’d have no ‘targets’ to chase as everything else would be so slow in comparison.
Nothing better from a fun point of view than to try and keep up with higher powered cars in my opinion.
[quote=DaveP]
However, that’s also the problem in many respects… as I don’t think you’d enjoy the trackday as much. So much time would be spend waiting behind other cars and you’d have no ‘targets’ to chase as everything else would be so slow in comparison.
Nothing better from a fun point of view than to try and keep up with higher powered cars in my opinion. [/quote]
Nail/head
btw Dave, you are the target
It doesn’t need to be really fast just fast enough to keep up with my brothers Honda exige. I just fancy trying a proper aero/downforce car. So most people would say the radicals to hardcore to be enjoyable on a track day?
You need serious belief in slicks/wings to get the best out of them. Its no good trying to drive up the their limit, as it just won’t work, you need to get some proper heat into them, or they are worse than pzero’s!
Remember Sean coming out of the pit lane at Donny in amongst a trio of Radicals, no idea what spec/driver, but some very surprised faces when he was still amongst them 5 laps later. So its definatley doable with an Exige.
[quote=DaveP]
Nothing better from a fun point of view than to try and keep up with higher powered cars in my opinion. [/quote]
That’s why us n/a S2 boys have such a smile on our face, it’s a target rich environment!
But I would love a 500bhp Audi in mine
So you only need an NA Honda then 
So you only need an NA Honda then [/quote]
NA ROCKS 
You know a 500bhp Elise/Exige would be mega Chris! Although I keep looking at that V6 Evora car on Monkey Wrench Racing
So you only need an NA Honda then [/quote]
lol. Yeah see this is why I want 500bhp in one so I can keep up with certain people
[quote=JDS]You need serious belief in slicks/wings to get the best out of them. Its no good trying to drive up the their limit, as it just won’t work, you need to get some proper heat into them, or they are worse than pzero’s!
Remember Sean coming out of the pit lane at Donny in amongst a trio of Radicals, no idea what spec/driver, but some very surprised faces when he was still amongst them 5 laps later. So its definatley doable with an Exige. [/quote]
I remember that - they were non too happy I recall …
The SR3 at Spa this year was mighty through eau rouge 138mph entry 128mph exit out of the top, saw that on his data logging, but on the other hand, most of the weekend it was in bits, like most others I have ever seen 